Ted Cruz: “I am secretly a citizen of Ethiopia”

The Texas senator mocked questions about his birth certificate

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In a jab at the recent flap over his birth certificate and whether or not he is eligible to run for president, Sen. Ted Cruz joked that he is “secretly a citizen of Ethiopia.”

While speaking at a TechNet gathering, the Houston Chronicle reports, Cruz had asked members of the media to leave the room so he could take questions from business executives attending the gathering. “I promise that while y’all are out I’ll try not to give any like really juicy piece of crazy news,” said Cruz. He added, “I am secretly a citizen of Ethiopia.”

Cruz, who is rumored to be considering a run for president in 2016, this week renounced his ties to Canada after learning that he might have dual citizenship. “Nothing against Canada, but I’m an American by birth and as a U.S. senator, I believe I should be only an American,” he said.

Cruz was born in Alberta, but his mother was a U.S. citizen, so he automatically became an American citizen upon his birth as well. Cruz had initially released his birth certificate this week after some, like Donald Trump, questioned whether his place of birth disqualified him for the presidency.

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

Overdevelopment, Overpopulation, Overshoot

Overdevelopment, Overpopulation, Overshoot

Slide 13

Airplane Contrails: Globalized transportation networks, especially commercial aviation, are a major contributor of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Photo of contrails in the west London sky over the River Thames, London, England.

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R.J. Sangosti/Denver Post

Overdevelopment, Overpopulation, Overshoot

Fire: More frequent and more intense wildfires (such as this one in Colorado, USA) are another consequence of a warming planet.